Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Nicole Mann, first Native American woman astronaut

Nicole Aunapu Mann, born June 27, 1977 in Petaluma, California, became the first Native American woman in space when she launched with SpaceX Crew-5 in October 2022 to the International Space Station.  John Herrington was the first Native American in space when he flew aboard Endeavour (STS-113) in November 2002.

She has Wailaki heritage, and is an enrolled member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes in California.

Mann is currently participating in Expedition 68 and will continue in Expedition 69.  She is scheduled to return to Earth in March 2023.

NASA, SpaceX Crew-5 launched today!

SpaceX Crew 5 (L-R): Anna Kikina, Josh Cassada, Nicole Mann, Koichi Wakata

SpaceX Crew 5 mission poster

About noon today, NASA/SpaceX's Commercial Crew Program launched its fifth crew to the International Space Station.  Its crew consists of Commander Nicole Mann (NASA), Pilot Josh Cassada (NASA), Anna Kikina (Roscosmos), and Koichi Wakata (JAXA), who is on his fifth spaceflight.  They plan to dock with the ISS tomorrow.

They are scheduled to stay in space for approximately six months and return to Earth in March.